4 weeks agoMinnesota Timberwolves forward
Jaden McDaniels scored a game-high 25 points in Tuesday's win over the Suns. He shot the ball well, going 10-for-17 from the field, and added eight rebounds, three assists, and a steal. The 23-year-old had just nine points in Game 1, which isn't unusual. Yet, with production like this, his popularity will increase heading toward Game 3 on Friday night. However, his rostering cost should also rise after the efficient performance.
--Dennis Clausen - RotoBallerSource: ESPN
4 weeks agoDallas Mavericks center
Daniel Gafford (back) is questionable to return to Tuesday's matchup with the Clippers. The 25-year-old lasted three minutes before being escorted to the locker room with back soreness. The Mavs lost Game 1, so the team is certainly hoping he can get back out there. But if Gafford is done for the evening,
Dereck Lively II and
Maxi Kleber would likely absorb most of the surplus minutes.
--Dennis Clausen - RotoBallerSource: Jared Greenberg
4 weeks agoBoston Celtics center
Luke Kornet (calf) won't play on Wednesday versus the Heat. The 28-year-old sustained a calf injury at practice and wasn't available for the series opener, with his absence likely to extend at least a few more contests. While Kornet had a semi-consistent role in the rotation during the regular season, head coach Joe Mazzulla only utilized three players outside of the starting lineup in Game 1, so he probably won't do much for DFS managers once he's healthy enough to return.
--Dennis Clausen - RotoBallerSource: NBA Injury Report
4 weeks agoPhoenix Suns forward
Grayson Allen (ankle) won't return to Tuesday's postseason meeting with Minnesota. He tweaked his right ankle during the Game 1 loss on Saturday night and was considered day-to-day. However, the former Blue Devil managed to suit up for this one, although he reinjured the same ankle, ending his night after logging only 17 minutes. With Game 3 on Friday night, Allen may not be healthy enough to get on the floor. The Suns already lack depth, so the starting lineup would presumably get plenty of work if that's the case. In addition,
Royce O'Neale and
Eric Gordon would be the favorites to absorb the surplus minutes.
--Dennis Clausen - RotoBallerSource: Amanda Pflugrad
4 weeks agoLos Angeles Clippers forward
Kawhi Leonard (knee) will play in Game 2 against Dallas on Tuesday. The two-time Finals MVP will make his first appearance of the month, having sat out nine straight games. Leonard's return will drop
Amir Coffey from the starting unit. Coffey could still play a decent role in the rotation, but his fantasy value takes a big blow with the move to the bench. Leonard has built himself a reputation as a prolific playoff performer, but he has struggled against the Mavericks this season. In three regular-season meetings, Leonard shot only 44.9 from the floor in the matchup to average 21.3 points with 6.3 rebounds and 4.0 assists.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: Shams Charania
4 weeks agoPhoenix Suns guard/forward
Grayson Allen (ankle) has been cleared to play in Tuesday's Game 2 against Minnesota. An ankle injury forced him to exit the series opener early on Saturday, but Allen has fully shaken off the injury and reportedly won't have a minutes limit on Tuesday. The 28-year-old sharpshooter averaged 19.0 points against Minnesota during the regular season with a sizzling 62.5 percent success rate from deep, but he had an off night in Game 1. Before injuring his ankle, Allen notched only four points, which all came via free throws. He finished 0-for-3 from the field in 25 minutes of action.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: Doug Haller
4 weeks agoNew Orleans Pelicans forward
Zion Williamson (hamstring) has said that it is "absolutely realistic" for him to return to action this postseason, reports Will Guillory of The Athletic. Williamson suffered a left hamstring strain a week ago in the team's first play-in game against the Lakers. He's on track for a re-evaluation in a week's time.
Trey Murphy III has taken over from Williamson in the starting unit and opened the playoffs with a very impressive performance in Game 1 against Oklahoma City. The 23-year-old led the team with 21 points and three blocks, adding four rebounds, two steals, and one steal to his line.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: Will Guillory
4 weeks agoMiami Heat point guard
Terry Rozier (neck) won't be ready to return to the lineup when the team continues its first-round series against Boston on Wednesday. He'll be sidelined for an eighth consecutive game due to neck spasms. Rozier's absence should secure a significant role for
Delon Wright on Wednesday. His performance was one of only a few bright spots for Miami in Game 1, as Wright led both benches with 17 points, hitting a perfect 5-for-5 from deep. He also notched a pair of steals and handed out three assists.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: Miami Heat
4 weeks agoMilwaukee Bucks forward/center
Giannis Antetokounmpo (calf) has been officially ruled out for Tuesday's Game 2 against Indiana. The former MVP is expected to return to action at some point in the series, but it's only been a couple of weeks since he strained his left Soleus muscle, and Antetokounmpo needs more time to heal.
Bobby Portis has taken over Antetokounmpo's position in the starting unit. He opened the first-round series with a 15-point, 11-rebound double-double. Meanwhile,
Damian Lillard and
Khris Middleton carry bigger loads offensively without Antetokounmpo.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: Milwaukee Bucks
4 weeks agoLos Angeles Clippers forward
Kawhi Leonard (knee) was present at the morning shootaround ahead of Game 2 on Tuesday versus the Dallas Mavericks. Dealing with inflammation in his right knee, Leonard hasn't played since March 31 and remains listed as questionable for the second game of the Western Conference quarterfinals. The 32-year-old two-way superstar's status is trending in the right direction but appears likely to come down to a game-time decision based on pregame warmups. Should Leonard remain out,
James Harden and
Paul George would dominate usage for the Clips as even more appealing DFS options on Tuesday's three-game slate. The sharpshooting
Amir Coffey would figure to remain in LA's starting lineup as well, but he averaged only 11.8 points, 3.7 rebounds, 1.6 assists, and 1.7 three-pointers in 28.9 minutes over 13 games as a starter in the regular season.
--Joseph Barbati - RotoBallerSource: Ohm Youngmisuk - ESPN
4 weeks agoDenver Nuggets center
Nikola Jokic cooked up a special line against the Lakers in Monday's 101-99 win, leading the team with 27 points and bagging 20 rebounds and 10 assists. It's his fourth career playoff game with at least 25 points, 20 rebounds, and 10 assists. There have been only four other occasions in NBA playoff history when a player has managed to record these numbers. Jokic's night included a pair of steals in 41 minutes on the floor, as he shot 9-for-16 from the field and 2-for-4 from downtown. The reigning Finals MVP fills up the stat sheet with ease and should continue to do so as the series shifts to L.A. later in the week.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: ESPN
4 weeks agoDenver Nuggets point guard
Jamal Murray salvaged his bad night with a strong finish and the game-winning shot in Monday's 101-99 victory over the Lakers. Murray put the Nuggets 2-0 up in the series by hitting a tough step-back 15-foot shot over
Anthony Davis at the buzzer. Denver pulled off a 20-point comeback in the game, with Murray scoring 12 of his 20 points inside the final 7:15 of play. He failed to hit a single three-pointer with five attempts and finished 9-for-24 overall from the field. However, Murray also made a big impact defensively with a pair of blocks and registered three rebounds with five assists. Murray's shot has been off at the beginning of the series, but he's known as a very good postseason performer and should kick into gear soon.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: ESPN
4 weeks agoLos Angeles Lakers forward
LeBron James had a vintage playoff performance in Game 2 against Denver on Monday in a 101-99 loss. He produced 12 of his 26 points in the fourth quarter and totaled eight rebounds, 12 assists, two steals, and two blocks. James was 3-for-6 with the three-ball and shot 9-for-19 overall. The NBA-s all-time leading scorer has now lost nine consecutive games against a single opponent for the first time in his 21-year career. He will try to spark a comeback in the series on Thursday when the two teams meet up in Los Angeles.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: ESPN
4 weeks agoLos Angeles Lakers forward/center
Anthony Davis brought out all of his offensive moves to score a game-high 32 points in Monday's loss to Denver. Davis missed only five of his 19 shots and racked up 11 rebounds, two assists, one steal, and one block across 39 minutes. However, the Lakers needed one more swat from him, as
Jamal Murray hit a 101-99 game-winner at the buzzer over Davis. The Lakers are now 2-0 down in the series, but Davis has been in outstanding form. He's averaged 32.0 points, 12.5 rebounds, 3.5 assists, and 2.5 blocks through the first couple of games.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: ESPN
4 weeks agoCleveland Cavaliers center
Jarrett Allen dominated the glass in Monday's Game 2 win against the Magic, becoming the third player in franchise history to record 20-plus rebounds in a playoff game. He joined
Kevin Love (21) and Brad Daugherty (20), gobbling up nine rebounds on the offensive end alone. The great work on the glass helped Allen to ease to a second consecutive double-double in the series, as he posted 16 points on 6-for-10 shooting. It was a productive night all around for the 28-year-old, with Allen completing his line with three assists, two steals, and two blocks. Allen also had 18 rebounds in Game 1, and Orlando clearly has to do better on the glass to have a chance in the series, which continues on Thursday.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: ESPN
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